Nasu Oyaji
Shimokitazawa’s Long-Loved Curry Mainstay
A 1990 mainstay in Shimokitazawa's curry scene, Nasu Oyaji draws regulars with comforting spice, a music-loving room, and the kind of neighborhood loyalty newer curry spots still chase.
Last verified: April 2026
Why Japanese People Love It
Nasu Oyaji has been part of Shimokitazawa since 1990, which in curry terms makes it one of the neighborhood's old guard. Locals talk about it less as a trend stop and more as one of the places that helped make Shimokitazawa feel like a true curry town in the first place. The room, with its wood tones and music-first atmosphere, still carries the sense that you have stepped into a place people built habits around rather than a place designed for social media circulation.
What Japanese regulars value here is balance. The curry has enough spice to stay interesting, but it still lands like comfort food. That's why it draws such a mixed crowd: longtime neighborhood residents, younger people doing the vintage-and-curry Shimokita loop, and solo diners who want something dependable before heading to a live house or back to the station.
There is also a real continuity to the shop's appeal. Shimokitazawa changes quickly, but Nasu Oyaji gives people a version of the area that still feels rooted: handmade curry, records, no unnecessary polish, and a meal that fits the neighborhood's pace rather than interrupting it.
How to Experience It
This is an easy lunch or early-dinner stop when you're already wandering Shimokitazawa. The station is close enough that you can drop in without overplanning, but the shop works best when you leave a little room for waiting, especially on weekends or during the height of the lunch rush.
The space suits solo diners well. If you're on your own, it's the kind of place where ordering one curry and staying focused on the plate feels completely natural. With two people, splitting a couple of toppings or comparing curry styles makes more sense. Either way, the visit stays casual.
Ordering is straightforward if you keep it simple. Pick a base curry, decide whether you want the famous "special" version with more going on, and settle in. English support is limited, so a point-and-order approach is still the easiest one.
What to Order
Special Curry (スペシャルカレー) — The most complete first order. It brings together the shop's richly layered curry base with extra vegetables, meat, and egg, giving you the full picture in one plate.
Chicken Curry (チキンカレー) — A reliable starting point if you want something classic. The spice is assertive but not punishing, and the chicken version shows the shop's comfort-food side best.
Vegetable Curry (やさいカレー) — The right call if you want something lighter but still deeply flavored. It keeps the focus on the curry's sweetness, spice, and texture rather than on sheer richness.
Plan your visit
| Area | Shimokitazawa |
|---|---|
| Category | Traditional Specialties |
| Price range | ¥1000-2000 |
| Hours | 12:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:30) |
| Closed | Irregular |
| Access | 4 min walk from Shimokitazawa Station |
| Reservations | Walk-in only |
| English menu | ✕ None No — Japanese menu only |
| English support | None |
| Last verified | April 2026 |
Nearby Experiences
Nasu Oyaji pairs naturally with a long Shimokitazawa wander. Browse vintage stores or record shops first, stop in for curry once you've worked up an appetite, then head back into the side streets for coffee or a live show. The shop makes the most sense as part of that broader neighborhood rhythm: half-day wandering, one satisfying meal, then another lap through the streets before you go home.